Miniature racing car



Aug- 24, 1965 E. R. STEWART 3,202,109

MINIATURE RACING CAR Filed Aug. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l rraewfyf Allg-24, 1965 E. R. STEWART 3,202,109

MINIATURE RACING CAR Filed Aug. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent O 3,262,109 lVIINl-ATURE RACING CAR Edward R. Stewart, 8522Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Aug. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 390,32119 Claims. (Cl. IWB- 60) My invention relates to toy cars and the like,and more particularly to an improved miniature car of the slot racertype.

In recent years, electric motor-driven miniature racing cars, andparticularly those adapted for running over tracks of various forms,have become increasingly popular toys. Generally, such cars are of theslot racer type including a guide pin riding in a slot to guide the carand electrical pick up arms sliding along electrical conductors forsupplying current to the cars motor. The magnitude ofthe voltage appliedto the cars motor controls the motors speed of operation and hence therate at which the car travels along the slot in the track. Thus, `byregulating the voltage applied to the conductors, the car may bestarted, speeded up, slowed and stopped. Unfortunately, in presentlyavailable slot racing cars, regulation of the applied voltage is theonly means of controlling the cars rate of travel. This does not allowfor accurate or rapid stopping orslowing of the car since even after thevoltage supply is terminated the car continues to move due to itsown'momentum. In practice, this makes it extremely dithcult to controlpresent slot racing cars, particularly during turning, the common resultbeing that during racing the cars often leave the tracks at the turns.This inevitably means the end of the race for the particular racerinvolved, materially detracts from the enjoyment of the game, and isvery hard on the racing cars, sometimes resulting in permanent damagethereto.

The diiiculty in controlling the slot racing cars, particularly duringturning, is generally increased by the rather crude chassis designprevalent in present slot racers. During turning, as well as whentraversing even a slight hill, the wheels of the present slot racerstend to leave the track, sometimes resulting in derailrnent of theassociated car.

In View of the foregoing, it is a general object of my invention toprovide an improved miniature racing car which overcomes the aboveproblems.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved miniatureracing car which may be accurately started, speeded up, slowed andstopped at the will of its operator.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved motor-drivenminiature racing car having a novel brake construction which isautomatically operable with operation of the motor of the car.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved chassisconstruction for miniature racing cars.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improvedminiature racing car which is inexpensive, simple in design, and easy tomanufacture and maintain.

The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages of my inventionmay be more clearly understood by reference to the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which setforth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of myinvention.

In the drawings:

` body over the frame12.

FIGURE l is a sectional, side view illustrating the inner 2 2 of FIGURE1;

` FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, sectional front View taken f. ICC

along the lines 3 3 in FIGURE 2 illustrating the mounting for the motorand brake assemblies to the frame construction for my miniature racingcar;

FIGURE 3a is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along the lines 3a-3ain FIGURE 1 illustrating the construction of the track over whichracingcar rides;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the brake band and associatedbifurcated support plate of the brake assembly `of the miniature racingcar illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of the brake apparatusillustrated in FIGURE 1 with the brake disengaged to allow tree runningof the racing car;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation. of the brake assembly of FIGURE`1 with the `brake on to prevent forward movement of the racing car;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional side View of the brake apparatus andrear end section of my miniature racing car employing a modified form ofbrake band;

FIGURE 8 is a perspectiveview of the modied form of brake bandillustrated in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional side view of `a modiiied brakeapparatus and motor drive mounting assembly for my miniature racing car;and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional top view of the modified brakeapparatus and motor mount illustrated in FIGURE 9.

In FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, my miniature racing car is representedgenerallyby the numeral 10 and comprises a rframe 12 and a car body 14,front and rear wheel supporting axles 16 and ,18, an electric motor 20and a brake assembly 22 all supported bythe frame.

To provide such support, the frame 12 comprises front and rear axlesupporting frames 24 and 26 having generally parallel side arms 28, 36and 32, 34, respectively. The front axle 16 passes through holes in theside arms 2S and 3i) with front wheels 36 and 38 stationed at the l endsof the axle and separated `from the side arms by 'spacers 4d. The rearaxle 18 passes through holes in the and 34 and extend from just forwardof the front axle 16 along the sides of the car, curving upward over therear axle 1S to therear of the car.` Car body cross pieces 48 and Silare fixed tothe side arms 2S and 30 adjacent the front and rear axles toprovide support for the car (See FIGURES 1 and 3.)

The side arms 32 and 34, on the other hand, extend within and along theside arms 28 and 30 from the rear of the car` forward to a position justbehind the front wheels 36 and 3S and are pivotally coupled to the sidearms 28 and 30 substantially midway between the front and rear axles bypins 52 and 54, respectively. The rear frame 26 is also resilientlycoupled to the front frame 24. This is accomplished by a compressionspring 56 extending around a vertical pin 58 lixed at its lower end toacross piece 60 between the rear ends of the arms 32 and 34 and passingat its upper end through a hole in a cross piece 62 Xed between the rearends of the arms 28 and 3i). The spring presses upwardly on the crossarm 62 and downwardly on the cross arm 60 to continuously urge the rearends of the front and rearframes 24 and `26 apart. The pivotal andresilient coupling of the front and rear frames thus alfords`spring-biased scissor-like movement betweenthe front and rear framesrelative tothe pins 50` and 52, allowing the front and rear wheels tomove up and down independent of each other, and tends to maintain thefront and rear wheels in contact` with the track over which my racing;car moves,

a v thereby allowing my car to rapidly travel over hills and valleyswithout its wheels leaving the track and materially improving my carsroad-hugging 4capabilities around turns.

In the form of my racing car illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3, theelectric motor 20 is pivotally coupled to the forward end of the rearframe 26 for limited vertical rocking movement relative to the rear axle18. Such support for the motor is provided by a flat support plate 62fixed to the lower side of the motor 20. The support plate 62 ispivotally coupled to the front portions of the side arms 32 and 34 bypins 68 and 78 passing through aligned holes in the side arms and a pairof flanges 64 and 66 extending upward from the sides of the supportplate.

The drive shaft of the motor 2t) is represented by the numeral 72 andextends rearward from the motor in a generally horizontal plane towardthe rear axle 18. Fixed to the end of the drive shaft 72 is a piniongear 74 which meshes with a ring gear 76 carried by the rear axle 18.

Surrounding the ring gear 76 is a brake band 78 best seen in FIGURE 4.The brake band 78 is generally of spiral shape with the end radiallyclosest the center of the spiral, i.e. its inner end, provided with ahole 8l) through which the drive shaft 72 projects. The end furthestfrom the center of the spiral, i.e., outer end of the band, is split andbent over to provide clips 82 for looping around and xing the outer endof the band to a pair of cross arms 84 extending laterally from abifurcated support plate 86 supported by the drive shaft. The positionof the support plate along the drive shaft is xed yby a collar 88. Theouter end of the brake band is thus solidly anchored to the drive shaftwhile the inner Vend of the band is carried by the drive shaft just for-Ward of the pinion gear 74.

When the motor 20 is not operating, the weight of the motor moves thedrive shaft 72 and the pinion gear 7d downwardly along the ring gear 76.This carries the inner end of the brake band 78 downward and wraps theband tightly around the ring gear. The brake band 78 thus provides endsupport for the drive shaft and, when tightly wrapped around the ringgear, prevents rotation of the rear axle 18. This condition is mostclearly illustrated in FIGURE 6.

When the motor 20 is energized to rotate the drive shaft 72 in thedirection indicated by the arrow 89, the pinion gear 78 initiallyrotates over the teeth ofthe stationary ring gear 76. Since the motor 20is pivotally coupled at its forward end, the initial rotation of thepinion gear 74 allows the pinion gear to effectively climb up the ringgear. This loosens the brake band 78 around the ring gear and permitsthe pinion gear to drive the ring gear and hence the rear axle 18 andrear wheels in a forward direction. Continued rotation of the piniongear 74 with the drive shaft 72 continues to tend to raise the piniongear withrespect to the rear axle 18, this being the normal reactionaccompanying the force tending to move the forward side of the ring geardown. The of condition of the brake assembly 22 with the motor runningis most clearly illustrated in FIGURE 5.

K As in conventional miniature racing cars, the electric motor 2f) is ofthe direct current type having a rotational speed which varies with themagnitude of the voltage applied to the motor. In this regard, currentis supplied to and returned from the motor by electrical pick ups 9i)and 92, each including a wire 93 connected to the motor 2t) and bristles94 for yriding along electrical conductors imbedded in the track overwhich the racer travels (see FIGURE 3a). In the illustrated form` of myracer the wires terminate 'at side brackets 95 extending from a'vertical guide blade 97 for guiding my car. The guide blade 97 isadapted to pivot with a pin 99 pivotally connected to the front of theframe 24 to follow a slot in the track. The bristles 94 are electricallyconnected to the ends of the wires 93 and extend under the bracketsrearwardly to ride along the electrical conductors imbedded in thetrack.

Once the motor 2@ is running and the brake assembly 22 is disengaged,the value of the voltage applied to the electric motor by the wiper arms98 and 92 regulates the rotational velocity of the drive shaft 72 andhence the forward velocity of my racing car. When it is desired toincrease the speed of the car, the voltage supplied to the motor 2e isincreased. When it is desired to slow the car, the voltage is decreasedaccordingly. As the voltage supplied to the motor 2? is decreased andthe rotational velocity of the drive shaft is reduced, the climb of thepinion gear 74- over the ring gear 76 relative to the rear axle 18reduces. As the pinion gear 74 moves slightly downwardly relative to therear axle 18, the brake band 78 moves inwardly around the outer surfaceof the ring gear 76 to increase the frictional drag of the brake band onthe ring gear. This immediately produces an accurately controlledslowing of my racing car to allow the car to come to a controlled haltor take a turn at a controlled and safe speed. lf further slowing of myracing car is desired, the Voltage supplied to the motor 20 is furtherreduced, with a corresponding downward movement of the pinion gear 74and tightening of the brake band 78 about the ring gear 76. If it isdesired to rapidly stop my racing car, the voltage supply is simplyterminated. This halts rotation of the pinion gear, effects a rapid,downward movement of the pinion gear relative to the rear axle 18 with aturning of the ring gear 76, produces an immediate tightening of thebrake band 78 around the ring gear and a sudden skidding halt of thecar.

FIGURE '7 illustrates a modified forrn of brake band 'i8' providing foraccurate speed control of my racing car with operation of the motor 29.As best seen in FlGURE 8, the brake band is generally of spiral shapewith the inner end provided with a hole 96 through which the drive shaftprojects. The outer end of the band is turned upwardly and then split topermit the drive shaft to pass between the two upwardly projectinglportions. The upper ends of these portions are bent over to provideclips 98 which engage the upper surface of a cross piece 1li@ extendingbetween the side arms 28 and 3? of the front frame 24.

Somewhat modified forms of the motor drive and brake assemblies for myracing car are illustrated in FIGURES -9 and lO. As represented, theelectric motor 2li is fixed to a support plate 182 secured, in turn, toa sleeve 14M around the rear axle 1S. The motor 2u is thus laterallysupported between the side arms 32 and 34 of the rear yframe 26 forrotation about the rear `axle 18. The rotation of the motor 28 about therear axle 18 is limited by a light compression spring 186 disposedaround a vgenerally vertically extending screw 198. The lower end of thescrew 1438 passes through a cross piece between the side arms 3@ and 34of the rear frame 26 while the upper threaded end screws into andthrough a plate 112 secured to and extending from the top of the motor20. Turning of the screw 108 controls the extension of the screw throughthe plate 112 and hence the compression of the spring 186 urging themotor upward about the rear axle 18.

In this position, the drive shaft 72 of the motor 26 extendshorizontally toward the side arm 3@ of the front frame 24 and isprovided with a pinion gear 74 which continuously meshes with a spurgear 76 carried by the rear axle 18.

Surrounding the spur gear 76 is a brake band 11d. The upper end of thebrake band is fixed by a pin 116 to the Vside of the motor 2G while thelower end of the brake band is fixed by a pin 118 to the `side arm 541-of the rear frame 26.

When the motor 28" is not operating, the weight of the motor 2-9 movesthe drive shaft 72 and the pinion gear 74 downwardly. This, in turn,carries the upper end of the brake band 78 downwardly to wrap the brakeband tivhtly around the spur gear '76 thereby preventing any rotation ofthe rear axle 18 and the rear wheels 42 and 44. Y

When the motor 20 is energized it rotates the drive shaft 72 and piniongear 'M' in the directions indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 9. Thiscauses the pinion gear to initially climb upwardly over the teeth of thespur gear 76 thereby loosening the brake band 114 from the spur gear andpermitting free driving rotation of the spur gear to drive my racing carforward. The accurate speed control of my racing car both in speedingup, slowing down and stopping is as previously described with thevoltage supplie-d to the motor 2G determining the rotational v-elocityof the pinion gear '74', the pinion gears upward and downward movementsrelative to the rear axle and hence the tightening and loosening of thebrake band 114 around the spur gear 7 6.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that my inventionprovides an improved miniature racing car which is capable of beingstarted, speeded up, slowed and stopped with good accuracy and whichincludes a novel brake construction automatically operable withoperation of the motor of the car. Further, my invention provides a newchassis suspension for miniature racing cars which enhances theroadhugging capabilities of miniature cars. My invention also provides aminiature racing car which is inexpensive, simple in design, and easy tomanufacture and maintain.

In the foregoing, specific examples of my racing cars have beendescribed in detail. Modifications and changes, however, may occur tothose vskilled in the art without departing from the :spirit of myinvention. Therefore, I intend that my invention be limited in scopeonly by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a miniature racing car:

an axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

an axle drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

` a pinion gear connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

means supporting saiddrive means with said pinion gear continuouslymeshing with said drive gear to rotate said drive gear and said axle inresponse to operation of said drive. means rotating said drive shaft andfurther supporting said drive means and drive shaft for movementrelative to said axle with rotation of said pinion gear;

and brake means automatically operable with said drive means fornormally preventing rotation of said axle and responsive to saidmovement of said drive means and drive shaft relative to said axle forallowing rotation of said axle. p

, 2. In a miniature racing car:

an axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

an axle drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; t

means supporting said drive means with said pinion gear continuouslymeshing with said drive gear to t srotate `said drive gear and said axlein response to `operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaftand further supporting said drive means and drive shaft for movementrelative to said axle with rotation of said pinion gear;

and brake means automatically operable with said drive means andincluding means connected to said axle and said drive means for normallypreventing the rotation of said axle and responsive to said movement ofsaid drive means and drive shaft relative to said axle for allowingrotation of said axle.

`3. In a miniature racing car:

an axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

i an axle drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

`a pinion gear connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

means` supporting said drive means with said pinion gear continuouslymeshing with said drive gear t0 rotate said drive gear and said axle inresponse to operation of said drive means rotaing said driveshaft andfurther supporting said drive means and drive shaft for movementrelative to said axle with rotation of said pinion gear;

a brake band around said axle for normally preventing rotation of saidaxle;

and means connected one end of said brake band to said drive means formovement therewith such that brake band loosens around said axle withsaid movement of said drive means relative to said axle to allowrotation of said axle. i

4. In a miniature racing car:

an axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

an axle drive gear connected to said axle;4

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear connected to said drive Shaft for rotation therewith;

.a brake band around said axle `for preventing `rotation of said axlewhen said drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake bandbeing connected to said drive means;

and means supporting said drive means for limited movement relative tosaid axle with said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drivegear to initially roll on said drive gear and move` said drive meansrelative to said axle to loosen said brake band around said axle and `tothen rotatesaid drive gear, all in response to operation of said drivemeans rotating said drive shaft. g t i i i t t 5. In a miniature racingcar:

` an axle drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; f

a brake band around said axle for preventing rotation of said axle when`said drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake band beingconnected to said drive means and an opposite; end connected to saidframe; i a

and means supporting said drive means for limited movement relative tosaid axle withisaid pinion gear t continuously meshingtwith said drivegear to initially roll on said drive gear `and move said drive meansrelative to said axle to loosen said brake band around t said `axle andto then rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of saiddrive means rotating said drive shaft.

6. In a miniature racing car:

`brake means automatically operative with operation of `said drive meansfor normally preventing rotation of said axle and including ,a brakeband around and tightly engaging an outer surface of said drive` gearwith one end of said brakeband connected to said drive means;

and means supporting said drive means for limited movement relative tosaid `axlewith said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drivegear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drive meansrelative to said axle to loosen said brake hand around said drive gearand to thenrotate said drive gear,

all in response to operation of said drive means rotating said driveshaft.

7. In a miniautre racing car:

an axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

,an axle drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

brake means automatically operative with operation of said drive meansfor normally preventing rotation of said axle and including a generallyspiral-shaped brake band around and tightly engaging an outer surface ofsaid drive gear with an inner end connected to said drive shaft adjacentsaid pinion and an outer end connected to said drive shaft on the sideof said inner end remote from said pinion;

and means supporting saidl drive means for limited movement relative tosaid axle with said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drivegear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drive meansrelative so said axle to loosen said brake band around said drive gearand to then rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of saiddrive means rotating said drive shaft.

8'. In a miniature racing car:

a car body-support frame;

an axle supported by said frame; an axle drive gear connected to saidaxle; operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

' a pinion gear connected to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

brake Ameans automatically operative with operation of said drive meansfor normally preventing rotation of said axle and including a generallyspiral-shaped brake band around and tightly engaging an outer surface ofsaid drive gear with an inner end connected to said drive shaft adjacentsaid pinion gear and an outer end connected to said frame on aside ofsaid inner end remote from said pinion;

and means supporting said drive means for limited operator controlleddrive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear xed to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

a brake band around said axle for preventing rotation of said axle whensaid drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake bandbeingconnected to said drive means;

and means supporting said drive means and drive shaft for limitedgenerally vertical movement, said drive vshaft lying in a generallyhorizontal plane, and said pinion gear continuously meshing with saiddrive gear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drivemeans relative to said axle to loosen said brake band around said axleand to then rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of saiddrive means rotating said drive shaft.

10. In a miniature racing car:

a car body-supporting frame;

. an axle supported by said frame; a drive gear connected to said axle;

a brake band around said axle for preventing rotation of said axlewhensaid drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake bandbeing ixed to said drive shaft;

and means hinged to said frame on one side of said axle to support saiddrive means and drive shaft for generally vertical rocking movement,said drive shaft lying in a generally horizontal plane, `and said piniongear continuously meshing with said drive gear to initially roll oversaid drive gear and move said drive means upward to loosen said brakeband around said axle and to then rotate said drive gear, all inresponse to operation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft.

lll. In a miniature racing car:

a car body-support frame;

an axle supported by said frame;

a drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear fixed to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

a brake band around said axle for preventing rotation of said axle whensaid drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake band beingconnected to said drive means;

and support means mounted for rotation about said axle for supportingsaid drive means and drive shaft for generally vertical rocking movementrelative to said axle, said drive shaft lying in a generally horizontalplane, and said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear toinitially roll over said drive gear and move said drive means upv/ardrelative to said axle to loosen said brake band around said axle and tothen rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of said drivemeans rotating said drive shaft.

12. In a miniature racing car:

a car body-support frame;

an axle supported by said frame;

a drive gear connected to said axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear fixed to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

a brake band around said axle for preventing rotation of said axle whensaid drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake band beingconnected to said drive means;

support means mounted for rotation about said axle for supporting saiddrive means and drive shaft for generally vertical rocking movementrelative to said axle, said drive shaft lying in a generally horizontalplane, and said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear toinitially roll over said drive gear and move said drive means upwardrelative to said axle to loosen said brake band around said axle and tothen rotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of said drivemeans rotating said drive shaft;

and means between said frame and said drive means for balancing saiddrive means upwardly relative to said axle.

13, A miniature racing car comprising:

a front axle having wheels :at the ends thereof;

a rear axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

:a body-supporting frame including an elongated front frame supportingsaid front axle and extending from said front axle over :and rearwardbeyond said rear axle `and an elongated rear frame supporting said rearaxle and extending under said front frame rearward -beyond said rearaxle and forward between said front .and rear axles;

means pivotally connecting said rear frame to said front frame betweensaid front :and rear axles;

spring means 'between said front and rear frames to the rear of saidrear axle for urging said front and rear frames apart at that point;

a ,drive gear connected to said rear axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive and means lforsupporting said drive mean-s for limited movement relative to said axlewith said pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive 4gear toinitially roll over said -drive gear and move said drive .means relativeto said axle to loosen said brake band around said axle and to thenrotate said drive gear, all in response to operation of said drive meansrotating said drive shaft.

L14. A miniature racing car comprising:

a front axle having wheels .at the ends thereof;

.a rear -axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

a body-supporting f-rame including an elongated front frame supportingsaid front axle and extending from said Ifront axle over and rearwardbeyond said rear axle and .an elongated rear frame supporting said rea-r.axle and extending under said front frame rearward bey-ond said rearaxle and forward between said front and rear axles;

means pivotally connecting said rear frame to said front frame midwaybetween said front and rear axles;

spring means between said front and rear frames to the rear of said rearaxle yfor urging said front and rear frames apart at that point;

a drive gear lixed to said rear axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear iixed to said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

a brake band around said axle for preventing rotation of said axle .whensaid drive means is not in operation, yone end of said brake .band being.connected to said drive means;

and means hinged to the forward end of said rear frame for supportingsaid drive means and drive shaft for vertical rocking movement, saiddrive shaft lying in .a

" generally horizontal plane, and said pinion gear continuously meshingwith said drive gear to initially roll over said drive gear and movesaid drive means relative to said axle to loosen said brake band around.said axle and to then rotate said drive gear, all in response tooperation of said drive means rotating said drive shaft.

115. A miniature racing car comprising:

la front axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

a yrear axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

a body-supporting frame including an elongated front frame supportingsaid front axle and extending from said front axle over and rearwardbeyond .said rear axle .and an elongated rear frame supporting said rear.axle and extending under said front frame re-arward beyond said rearaxle and forward between said front and rear axles;

means pivotally connecting said rear frame to said front frame betweensaid front and rear axles;

spring means between said front .and rear frames to the rear of saidrear axle for urging said front and rear frames apart at that point;

.a drive gear yfixed to said rear axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion gear fixed to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; a brakeband around said -axle for preventing rotation of said axle when saiddrive means is not in operation, one end of said brake band beingconnected to said drive means;

supporting vsaid drive means and said drive shaft for vertical rockingmovement relative to said axle, said ydrive shaft lying in a rgenerallyhorizontal plane, and said pinion .gear continuously mesh-ing with saiddrive gear to initially roll over said drive gear and move said drivemeans relativeto said axle to loosen said brake `band .around said .axleand to rotate said drive gear, all in response to rotation of said driveshaft by said drive means.

`16. A miniature racing oar comprising:

:a front axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

a rear axle having Wheels at the ends thereof;

la body-supporting frame including an elongated front frame .supportingsaid front axle and extending from said Ifront .axle over and rearwardbeyond said rear axle and an elongated rear frame supporting said rear.axle and extending under said front frame rearward beyond said rear.axle .and forward between said front and rear axles;

means pivotally connecting sai-d rear frame to said 4front frame betweensaid front and rear axles;

spring means between said front and rear frames to the rear of said rearaxle -for urging said front and rear lframes .apart at that point;

a drive gear fixed to said rear axle;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft;

a pinion `gear fixed to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; f'

a ibrake band .around said axle for preventing rotation of said .axlewhen said drive means is not in operation, one end of said brake bandbeing connected to said drive means;

means mounted for rotation about .said axle for supporting said drivemeans and said drive shaft for vertical rocking movement relative tosaid axle, said drive .shaft lying in a generally horizontal plane, andsaid pinion gear continuously meshing with said drive gear to initiallyroll over said drive gear and move said drive means relative to saidaxle to loosen said brake band :around said axle and to rotate saiddrive gear, all in response to rotation of said drive shaft by saiddrive means;

and spring means fixed between said fear frame and said drive means forurging sai-d drive means upward relative to said axle.

`17. A miniature racing car comprising:

a front axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

a rear axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

la body-supporting frame including .an elongated front -frarnesupporting said front .axle and extending from .said front axle `overand rearward beyond said rear axle and an elongated rear .framesupporting said rear axle and extending under .said front frame rearwardbeyond said rear axle and forward between said yfront and rear axles;

means pivotally connecting said rear frame to said front frame betweensaid front and rear axles;

and spring means between said front and rear frames to the rear of saidrear .axle for urging said front and rear frames apart at that point.

18. In a miniature racing car:

an .axle having wheels at the ends thereof;

operator controlled drive means including a drive shaft for turning inresponse to operation of said drive means;

means supporting said drive means vfor limited transverse movementrelative to said axle;

torque transmission means between said axle and said drive shaft forturning said axle and for moving said drive means relative to .said axlein response to operation of said drive means;

and brake means automatically operable with said drive means fornormally Vpreventing rotation of said axle and responsive `to saidmovement -of said drive 1 1 means transverse to said axle for allowingrotation of said axle. 19. In a miniature racing car: an axle havingwheels at the ends thereof;

Voperator controlled drive means for turning said axle;

means supporting said drive means for limited transverse movementrelative to `said axle with operation of said drive means; and

brake means automatically operable with said drive means for normallypreventing rotation of said axle and responsive to .movement of saiddrive means 12 v transverse to lsaid axle for allowing rotation of saidaxle.

i References Cited bythe lxaimiunex"V 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,539,3601/51 Bartlett 104-63 3,159,109 12/64 Braverman 104--148 3,163,123 12/64Ziroli 104-60 10 ARTHUR L. LA PONT, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CGRRECTION Patent No.3,202,109 August Z4, 1965 Edward R. Stewart It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above inumbered patent requiring correction andthat the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 14, for "Connected" read Connecting line 16, before"brake" insert said Column 7, line 21, for "so" read to line 68, for"body-supporting" read body-support column l0, line 44, for "fear" readrear Signed and sealed this 22nd day of March 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. IN A MINIATURE RACING CAR: AN AXLE HAVING WHEELS AT THE ENDS THEREOF;AN AXLE DRIVE GEAR CONNECTED TO SAID AXLE OPERATOR CONTROLLED DRIVEMEANS INCLUDING A DRIVE SHAGT; A PINION GEAR CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVESHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH MEANS SUPPORTING SAIUD DRIVE MEANS WITHSAID PINION GEAR CONTINUOUSLY MESHING WITH SAI DDRIVE GEAR TO ROTATESAID DRIVE GEAR AND SAID AXLE IN RESPONSE TO OPERATION OF SAID DRIVEMEANS ROTATING SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND FURTHER SUPPORTING SAID DRIVE MEANSAND DRIVE SHAFT FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID AXLE WITH ROTATION OF SAIDPINION GEAR; AND BRAKE MEANS AUTOMATICALLY OPERABLE WITH SAID DRIVEMEANS FOR NORMALLY PREVENTING ROTATION OF SAID AXLE AND RESPONSIVE TOSAID MOVEMENT OF SAID DRIVE MEANS AND DRIVE SHAFT RELATIVE TO SAID AXLEFOR ALLOWING ROTATION OF AXLE.